Banned Books 2: House of Night Series

House of Night Series: Banned Book

House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast is about a girl name Zoey Redbird who was “marked” as a vampire by a vampire tracker by putting a crescent moon on her forehead. Her whole life changes as she is thrust into a school called the “House of Night” about magic and vampires, and a goddess named Nyx.

First off you’re probably thinking, “marked” that sounds a little extreme, but, no it’s a unique way of telling vampires apart from humans with the crescent moon and that means they are marked by the goddess Nyx and are given unique gifts from her.

The one reason this book is banned is cult like. Nyx is a Pagan goddess, and when most people here the word Pagan, they think cult or devil worshipper automatically and its linked to dark magic. There is also affinities with Spirit, Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, same with paganism, they also say “Blessed Be” another pagan term.

In this interview with on of the writers P.C. Cast she says it is based off of Pagan Beliefs, so it’s bound to get people erked who have always believed that Pagans’ are “People who only use dark magic” or “Devil Spawns:”

ML: All the students in the House of the Night series are marked by the vampire goddess Nyx, destined to become her representatives in the world. Can you tell us a little about how your vampires are different from the ones we’re more familiar with and why you made them that way?
PC: Well, as I said, I’ve based their belief system on a Pagan, matriarchal society. I choose to do that because I believe in empowering women. It’s a theme on which I’ve focused my adult books, too. Also, carrying through with the Pagan ideology, I’ve made the journey of my teens Changing into vamps more biological with a touch of paranormal, versus the other way around. I did that because I like the earth-based aspect of it, and my father is a biologist, so research is a family affair!P.C. Cast Interview

The next reason this book is being banned is for nudity and dark magic, and people hint she pokes fun at Christianity, so this could be another reason. I think we covered the dark magic subject, it stems from the Pagan system bound in the books. The nudity part was a sex scene in “Awakened” with Neferet and a white bull and other various ones.

Why Shouldn’t It Be Banned?

It’s fantasy, plain and simple. Though it has Pagan beliefs entwined, people can learn, and it’s fantasy. Vampires aren’t real people!

Nudity in teen books is nothing new!!!

Dark Magic? It is fantasy.

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Banned Book Post: Harry Potter

Why is it banned?

First off, a lot you have probably heard of Harry Potter and know it’s about a boy who learns he’s a wizard and goes to Hogwarts to learn magic….But did you know it is the most banned book in America and one of the most popular. According to The New York Times it topped the list of banned books. It has raised many disputes but has many fans that adore it and well defend it. Harry Potter is a loved franchise but a hated one too.
Harry Potter was originally put on the banned list due to it promoting witchcraft, dark magic and implying cults. Harry and his friends use magic all the time, but never intentionally use dark magic or harm others unless they are in dire need. The only time they use defensive magic is when they are in class or defending themselves.

This book is mainly being banned is schools that have a churches influence because magic is associated with the devil because in the Bible magic is associated with him and a sin. Some people believe that it is promoting the religion “Wicca” (or known as paganism) and some people believe “Wicca” is derived from the devil himself, when “Wicca” is a peaceful religion revolving around nature and not harming other­­­­­s.

Another reason why parents and other people don’t like the Harry Potter series is Harry and his friend’s actions because they lie and deceive, they believe it isn’t teaching their children good moral lessons. Though, when Harry or his friends lie it is either to get their friends out of trouble or to escape moral danger.

There are also complaints that the book is too dark for young readers. Example one being: Harry’s parents being killed in front of him as a baby, abuse, etc. but besides that the story teaches friendship and how to come out of a dark place

Why shouldn’t the Harry Potter Series be banned?

Harry Potter is a children’s book, JK Rowling did not intend to promote cults or young children to do witchcraft or lie. It’s a fantasy book that is not intended for the magic to be real or the actions to cause anything real to happen.

This book is pure fantasy. It promotes friendship and love more than anything, like how Hermione and Ron stuck by Harry’s side even in life or death. Or how Harry freed Dobby even though he almost killed him “protecting” him.

Some may disagree with me here, but you also see real heroes. Such as Severus Snape, he portrayed the worse villain to get on Lord Voldemort’s good side to try and betray him to protect EVERYONE and he gets crapped on until he is dead. Not all heroes play the good guy all the time.